page_title: Pyrenean Shepherd
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Pyrenean Shepherd / History
caption_attribution_description: Berger des Pyrénées: Elina du Haut des Monts Foto selbst erstellt
context_page_description: The Pyrenean Shepherd is a medium-small breed of dog native to the Pyrenees mountains in southern France and northern Spain, bred since at least medieval times for herding livestock, especially sheep. It worked as an active herder together with the Great Pyrenees, another breed, which acted as the flock's guardian.
context_section_description: After the first World War, the Pyrenean Shepherd, or "Pyr Shep", gained national recognition in France for their valiant work as couriers, search and rescue dogs, watch dogs, and company mascots.
  The smooth-faced Pyrenean Shepherd in its harlequin or blue merle coloration may have been one of the foundation breeds for the Australian Shepherd when sheep herders brought their sheepdogs to the American West when they flew to the United States as contract herders for the Western Range Association in the 1940s until the early 1970s.
  The Pyr Shep is not yet a well-known breed outside of its native France and Spain, but its size, intelligence, and attractive coat make it appealing. After one of its breed won the World Agility Championship for midsized dogs in 2003, it gained more attention as an intelligent performance dog for dog sports.
  On 24 January 2015, a male Pyrenean Shepherd, GCh (Grand Champion) La Brise Sun Bear, a dog (i.e., male), was awarded an AKC all-breed Best In Show (BIS). This was the first BIS since having been formally recognized by the AKC for competition (within the Herding Group).
  The first Pyrenean Sheepdogs were registered with the Kennel Club (UK) in 1988 and the Pyrenean Sheepdog Club of Great Britain was formed in 1992 by a small number of enthusiasts.
caption: A smooth-faced Pyrenean Shepherd.
exif: {"Image Artist": "Jan Kehrl - www.wilde-kehrle.de", "Image Copyright": "GNU public licence", "Image ExifOffset": "101"}